Alex Smith says Chiefs’ first-string offense improved against Seattle

Alex Smith said the Chiefs’ first-string offense improved in its second preseason game.
DAVID EULITT
deulitt@kcstar.com

Alex Smith said the Chiefs’ first-string offense improved in its second preseason game.
DAVID EULITT
deulitt@kcstar.com

It was hardly a groundbreaking performance, but quarterback Alex Smith said the Chiefs’ first-string offense was better in their 14-13 win over Seattle on Friday than it was in the preseason opener at Arizona on Aug. 15.

“Yeah, I think there were (positive) signs, we got more reps,” Smith said. “I think we finally got into a rhythm. The touchdown scoring drive had some good things in it and there were some good things in the red zone. Obviously, there were some things that need to get corrected and things we need to get better at as well, but yeah, I think there was progress.”

The Chiefs’ first-string offense finally mustered a touchdown — a Smith toss to Jeremy Maclin — after registering only a field goal against the Cardinals. But on the other end of the spectrum, Smith threw an interception for the second straight game, and protection issues continued along the line.

Still, Smith — who is in his third year as the Chiefs’ starter under coach Andy Reid — says this is the most comfortable he’s been in an offense in his 11-year career.

Sign Up and Save

“Yeah, without a doubt. No question,” Smith said. “…I feel like when I’m watching the film with coach, I’m trying to do too much because I’m so comfortable with where everybody’s at and you know all of those details. Even going back to the fundamentals of things, I’m doing too much with things like my eyes and things like that, but I’m very comfortable, without a doubt. We’ve got a lot of the same pieces in place, I’ve been with the same coaches for three years so it’s a good thing.”

Smith was asked to elaborate on what he meant when he said he was doing too much.

“I just think trying to move defenders, trying to move guys and doing too much of that,” Smith said. “Sometimes in camp you get away with it.”

Read Next

The Chiefs have had a busy offseason, and The Star's Terez A. Paylor is here to break it down. Live from the NFL's Annual Meeting in Orlando, Terez interviewed the beat writers who covered the Chiefs' six most noteworthy offseason additions: Sammy Watkins, Anthony Hitchens, Kendall Fuller, Damien Williams, Chad Henne and David Amerson.